I know Molly.....

[moorequests]

No: HPFGUIDX 84251

Artcase wrote:
> > So, in conclusion, I stand by my initial opinion that Molly is 
not 
> an 
> > accurate portrayal of mothers and is a carboard symbol for what 
> > JKR "wishes" her life to be. I believe that wish to be delusional 
> and 
> > am calling her out on the fact, because IMO she should know 
better. 
> I 
> > have read that she is a fan of psychology, if so, why can't she 
> > recognize her own mistakes? AND more importantly, why perpetuate 
> the 
> > myth to a new generation? It is an injustice to them.
 
Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> I'm sorry, but this really struck a nerve with me.  First, what 
> evidence can you point to that this is how JKR "wishes" her life to 
> be?  
> 
> Second, and more importantly to me, why does JKR owe anybody 
> anything?  She writes books.  That is what she does.  She writes 
them 
> the way she wants to and creates the characters she wants to.  If 
we 
> don't like them, that's fine...and we don't have to purchase or 
read 
> her books.  But why say/imply she OWES anyone out here in 
readerland 
> anything?  She doesn't!  
> <snip> Sorry if this seems "hot-headed".  I don't mean it to be, 
but I just 
> feel pretty strongly about this idea that an author owes us readers 
> anything.  [I realize you didn't use the word "owe" but, to me, it 
> was implied in the words "It is an injustice."]
> 
> Have at me. :-)


   Susan....


  I'm not going to "have at you" or the original  poster, even though 
I disagree with both of you. Rather, I think a better way of 
expressing it is that I can see what you're saying, but I don't agree 
with you, I don't think you really see things through an author's 
eyes.

   For example: J.K. Rowling may not agree with many of her 
characters, but they're in there for a reason. Many authors put 
characters in books purposefully to illustrate a point; to show a 
viewpoint that they may not agree with- to generate discussion or to 
help their audience step back and examine their OWN prejudices. 
Authors DO owe their audience something, and that is one thing: 
honesty. 

  Whether they choose to portray honesty in the form of a dislikeable 
character who has been warped by the prejudices of another, that's 
their choice; whether they choose to put in an overbearing mother 
whose choice to withhold information from her son and daughter, and 
that choice puts them in danger at the end of the story, that is also 
the author's choice. But it should say something about the 
character's choices. Mrs. Weasley is a consistant, well formed 
character. Like many people in real life, she is neither 'good' 
nor 'bad'- she simply is. She is drawn a consistant portrait of a 
motherly, worried, protective person. She makes both good and bad 
decisions in the books. We are allowed to view the consequences of 
each. 

   The worst type of book, in my opinion, is a pedantic, overly 
preachy one. Thank God Harry Potter is not. 

 -M.M.